New York
W New York–Union Square embarked on a $100 million room-to-rooftop reinvention. The W’s take on a hotel lobby is “the Living Room,” inspired by Grand Central Station. The space acts as a “living room”-inspired area not just for the hotel but also serves as an escape for both locals and travelers through the bustling city. The Living Room can also be used as an event space with weekly curated cultural programming that includes live music, talks and art activations. The W Hotels brand by Marriott Bonvoy was introduced in Manhattan, but this property focuses less on the aesthetics of the Big Apple and more on the natural ambiance of Union Square Park. The 256-room hotel features greens, oranges and grays that represent the changing seasons. The hotel also offers Union Square’s only rooftop bar. Seventeen stories high, the rooftop is an intimate indoor/outdoor space with views of the New York City skyline.
The property offers nearly 3,000 square feet of meeting space. The four spaces and two breakout rooms are located on the same level near each other. The largest space, measuring 1,012 square feet, hosts 83 guests with views of Union Square.
Virginia
JW Marriott Reston Station opened in September in Northern Virginia. The hotel’s location offers easy access to the Metro, giving guests direct connections to Washington, D.C., and Dulles International Airport. The hotel offers 247 guest rooms, 14 junior suites, four executive suites and a presidential suite. Each room is equipped with spa-inspired bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The property offers nearly 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space across 11 rooms, all of which are located on one level to provide seamless navigation and flow for events. The JW Marriott’s largest space is approximately 10,000 square feet. The prefunction area holds up to 1,300 guests.
With the opening of the hotel, the brand debuted 14 “Mindful Rooms” that feature natural textures and soft lighting as well as items to maintain guests’ wellness routines: yoga mats, light weights and other recovery tools.
Washington, D.C.
Ahead of its 50th anniversary, the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill was completely renovated. The redesign spans every aspect of the hotel, with a focus on American craftsmanship, as the hotel sits less than 1,300 steps from Capitol Hill. The Hyatt property elevated its 840 guest rooms with new sleeper sofas in king rooms and updated its technologies to include 4K smart ultra-HD flat-screen televisions.
[Related: New Hilton in Arlington at the Base of History and New York Countryside Resort Sits on 100 Acres]
The guest rooms were designed to complement aspects of Capitol Hill and its neighborhoods. Dark flooring and rich polished wood are often seen in homes throughout the community and have been reflected in the hotel’s redesign. Metal riveting details on guest room headboards are inspired by the intricate iron work used to design the Capitol dome.
The property offers 32 meeting spaces comprising more than 38,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Its largest space, The Regency Ballroom, is 11,388 square feet. The ballroom is the largest on Capitol Hill, holding up to 1,500 guests. The property’s banquet halls pay tribute to D.C.’s history and are named after historical battles: “Bunker Hill,” “Lexington” and “Concord.” The Hyatt Regency’s modern boardrooms are named after National Parks. The historically themed spaces also feature views of the Capitol grounds.
Where Global Leaders Meet...
UNICEF revealed renovated meeting facilities at Three United Nations Plaza in New York City, a 15-story mixed-use building located across the street from the UN’s headquarters. The two spaces, Danny Kaye Visitor Center and Labouisse Hall, showcase UNICEF’s history and mission while introducing guests to the worldwide children’s aid group.
The redesigned Danny Kaye Visitor Center is equipped with a lobby, conference room and cafeteria. The conference room received a new set of glass doors that invite visitors into a space separate from the lobby.
Labouisse Hall is a 5,400-square-foot reception and conference center that serves as a high-profile venue for hosting ambassadors, government officials and international dignitaries. The room was designed around the theme “Seeds of Growth,” with the hope of fostering growth and development worldwide.
The renovation extends throughout its prefunction space, conference room and support areas, including the green room, control room, interpreter stations and storage facilities. The space offers customizable layouts and advanced AV, including cameras, stage lighting and LED lighting. Advanced equipment and acoustic curtains for live translations are also available for interpreters in the control room.
